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Epic Games CEO Pressures Apple to Approve Fortnite on iOS App Store
Epic Games is awaiting Apple’s approval to reinstate Fortnite on the U.S. iOS App Store. After nearly a week of waiting, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to publicly urge Apple to take action. He emphasized the existence of Fortnite imitations currently available on the App Store and directly appealed to Apple CEO Tim Cook. The delay threatens a crucial weekly update for the popular game.
Sweeney Calls Out Fortnite Clones
In a post on X, Sweeney shared screenshots of a game listing on the App Store for a title called Fort Battle Royale Epic Shoot. The screenshots featured graphics inspired by Fortnite, though a closer examination reveals it is not the authentic game. “Hey @AppStore can we get the real Fortnite up pls?” Sweeney questioned.
- Sweeney highlighted the presence of Fortnite clones on the App Store
- He directly addressed Apple CEO Tim Cook
Clone Games Removed and Others Surface
Shortly after Sweeney’s post, Fort Battle Royale Epic Shoot was removed from the App Store. However, Sweeney quickly spotlighted another Fortnite similar game, Epic Survival Battle Royale 3D. At the time of reporting, that app remained accessible on the App Store, highlighting a recurring issue where unofficial copies of well-known games make their way onto the platform.
Direct Appeal to Tim Cook
Sweeney also replied to a post Cook had made earlier in the day. “Hi Tim. How about if you let our mutual customers access Fortnite? Just a thought,” Sweeney posted.
Fortnite’s Anticipated Return
Following the ruling on April 30th in the case of Epic Games v. Apple, which restricted Apple from imposing fees on purchases made outside of the App Store, Sweeney announced that Epic would bring Fortnite back to the U.S. iOS App Store “next week.”
Submission and Review Delays
Epic reported submitting Fortnite to Apple on Friday, May 9th, but the app’s approval remains pending. Apple’s official website states that the typical review time for app submissions is less than 24 hours for 90 percent of submissions.
- Epic submitted Fortnite to Apple on May 9th
- Standard review process is typically completed within 24 hours.
The Impending Friday Update
Sweeney stated that a new version of the game was submitted due to the necessity “to release a weekly Fortnite update with new content this Friday, and all platforms must update simultaneously.” However, this updated submission also awaits approval.
Update in Jeopardy
“We don’t have an update on our Fortnite submission to the App Store,” Sweeney said. “Apple has neither accepted nor rejected it. So the Friday update to Fortnite is now in jeopardy.”
The implication of this statement remains unclear. It’s uncertain whether Epic intends to postpone the scheduled Friday update for all platforms where Fortnite is available if Apple continues to delay the approval.